Incident outside Offaly pub lands youth worker in court

A YOUTH worker was surprised when fines worth a total of €1,000 were imposed on him at Tullamore District Court after Judge Andrew Cody was told about a dispute at a local pub.

James Walsh (35), Corndarragh, Ballydaly, Tullamore, pleaded guilty to committing public order offences at Market Square, Tullamore on February 5 last.

Sergeant Richard Thornton said that at 12.40am when gardai responded to a call from Harbour Street they were told that a male had been abusive and had refused to leave the Harbour Bar.

When Mr Walsh was given a direction by Garda Paul Walsh to leave the area he refused and also refused to give his name, saying: “F... off, I'm not giving you my name.”

He was then arrested and he became very aggressive and was taken to Tullamore Garda Station. Sergeant Thornton added that the man had no previous convictions.

Mr Walsh, who represented himself in court, told Judge Cody he thought the sergeant had “elaborated quite a lot” in what he had said.

“I wasn't the politest person there but I didn't tell [the garda] to f... off,” said the accused.

He said that when he had been asked what had happened on the night he was only half way through his side of the story when he was asked to leave.

Asked by Judge Cody what he worked at Mr Walsh said he was a youth worker.

The judge responded: “You'd want to give a bit better example than that.”

Mr Walsh said he had acted in the way he did out of frustration.

Judge Cody imposed a fine of €500 for refusing to leave the area when asked, €300 for a breach of the peace and €200 for refusing to give his name.

Mr Walsh replied: “Total €1,000?” to which the judge responded, “Yep.”

When Mr Walsh asked what his next step was, if he could make an appeal, and stated that it was his first time in court, Judge Cody told him: “You can pay a solicitor for that advice.”